Lighthouse and the like



June 17, 1930. R. R. STEEL 1,764,656

LIGHTHOUSE AND THE LIKE Filed May 11, 1926- 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1 i V l i "I: E I v IN l/E/V Tok.

fm AZA AI DAIYEK June 17, 1930. R. R. STEEL 1,764,656

LIGHTHOUSE AND THE LIKE Filed May 11, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 /Nl/EN TOR.

. ATTORNEK V "3 trol of electro inagnetic means.

Patented June 17, 1930' ROBERT READMAN STEEL, or BRENTFORD, ENGLAND, Assienoit T AMERICAN GAS- JAOGUMULATO coMrANY, or JERSEY ELIZABETH, NEW JERSEY, A CORPORATION OF NEW tienrnousn AND THE LiKE Ap plication iiled. may 11, 1926, Sena K031054315, and in" Great Britain m 14,1925.

This invention relates to lighthouses and like lamps of the kind in which the illuminating means or source of light is, upon-failure, automatically restored.

, According to the present invention use may i be made of two difiierent illuminants as sources of light, namely electricity'andgas, and one feature of the invention consistsin that, as soon as the electric illuminationis V 1 no longer available, itwill automatically be replaced by gas illumination. 7 a a Broadly the object of the invention is to provide for the automatic. replacement of a defective electric'lamp in the focus of alight- I house lens or the like by another electric lamp which may be termed a stand-by lamp, and l of-Which there may beseveral, and, when gas is used, finally by a gas burner in theevent I of there beingno perfect electric lamp avail- 29 able orupon failure of the source of electric current. V

To this end the'stan'd-by electric lamps are severally. mounted so thatthey tend to occupy their out-of-use position Whilst the gas burner has atendency to move into the focus of the lens The electric lamps and the gas burner are adapted to be broughtinto; the focus of the lens in sequence by a motor, or. by motors individualito each,'under the con- According to one .method of v the invention the rotarymotion ofacam-Wheel or curve, driven'by, for'instance,v a tallingwveight, is depended upon for effecting the exchange of the electric lamps or gas burners respectively. 5 The following isa description of such a device. Theapparatus is intendedto be employed in. lighthouses and normally incandescent lamps are used, fedby'an electric con- 4 duit to the lighthouse, but in addition to the incandescent lamps a-ga's burner is embodied 'in the apparatus to which gas is supplied from a gas container. p 5 p I Bye means of this apparatus, accord1ng to theinvention, it is intended to eliminate the results of such faults'asmay-be attributed to the followingcauses I," i

Case I. During darkness bro;

I ken, but unused spare incandescent lamps are. at hand for use.

plane. of the apparatus.

Case iiiioaring darkness: the filament is broken in thelast spare incandescent lamp.

Case III. {'During darkness the electric sup ply fails; i i 4 cuit is'broken by the lighthouse keeper or in some other Way is disrupted.

Fig. 1 shows the general arrangement ofone house. Fig. 2 shows; schematically the same arrangement here; the cam Wheel or'curve line is developed or straightened out inone As shown in Figs. 1 and 2 electricfilamerit Case IV. Duringdaylight the electric cir- 3 g? i a diagram of theother form form of the apparatus, installed in a lightlamps 1, 2, 3aie employed,-thenumber of h which'may be varied ifdesired. e

The filament lamps andgas burner aresuspended fromand supported byfparallel motion link systems! and 4 respectively which are movab-ly connected to the lantern ceiling,

Wall or other fixed. point inside the lantern.

These link systems are guided and i moved the cam rings for curves 5 and 6, mounted upon a rotatable ring' l, or anelement of "a ring; 7 When "the-ring; is revolved the cam rings or cur-ves'yvill: act, upon'the link systems insuch a 'ayvthat the respective lampsv'viH be lowered into or lifted up j froni' the focal point of the lens .8,;through the upper dark paths of the rays oflig-ht which emanate sector of thelensstructure and out of the v from thelampwhich is inuse or illuminat ing position Wherebythesaidrays are unobstructed. -Thelens 8:1nay be of anyknown construction: but preferably is of general drum type, as shown.

In order to obtain therevolving motion of the ring'f7' a Weight -Q. is employed which Weight is connected to the jlowerend ofa depending'portion of acord or rope lQ'which is oundupon the ring .7 Y

stops 23l land 12? are; em ployede which are 1 To"'arrestthe ring 7, at themoment when .a serviceable light 'sourceis installed inthe focal; point, of the lens, two. electric control the lamp 1 is broken the mechanism: will he. moved in the following way The stop 12- is released by the deenergizing of the coil 13 which. no longer receives curre t and is moved, spring 18,, ou Oi L- ea e hma l in the n 7-. T

ring is consequently moved by theaction of the weight 9, Wherehy the can or curve 6 see F 2) S We upeli ink syst m. Her the' lamp 1', that said lamp is lifted and rem d f em he' sy m.

The cam or curve 15 thenacts on the link system t for the gas burner 19 so that this will' take its place'in the focal point of the lens 8 where, however,it ea ot remain be au e the n 7 Cont nue t rota T e ing, 7 n inues its rot tion o that the. ga u e i t tu n. s r p a ed by he. ele

tric lamp 2, whereby the electric circuit isreestablisl'i'edand completed through contacts 20. wh r upon.- the st p 2- f11' again. n er into engagement with one of the notches of the ring 7 in this case at 21 so that thefsys;

1. is rou ht o. st.-

' Case. II. Beforethe breaking of, the, fil ment in. a p 3 h Path o ei ur nt isa fQHQW V i I I From the positive line. through the series coil 13, the contact-s22 and the lamp 3 to the negative line. The shunt coil 15 isde-efir gi'Zedj because its circuit was broken at the contacts 17 when the lamp 3 was put into use t r hea e, he filament Qfthe amp When h irc it c h sh nt 5 a brok nith t p 23 Wasmoved layh sp n 24 against the ,ring i, at a position however, where it could not} engage any one of the notches in the upper. edge of thering 7 If h filam t f' h51a p3isb ke i e e h et fmwi be m ed-it th f ll i my The se ie i lx 7 l 5 a -e d and th t p 12 l. iberate t e. ri fiwhis is moved'by the weight 9 sothat the cam curve W l. .fi he ek yst m et e l mp The eaf er, th a or u v will t nb ts ink ste hiQhI upn rte ,hulrner l9', so that it willtalre its place and we maintain the foca oinpoi-u ereaswhn the stop23 locks a eting]?- and, bringstlie syst'em't o irestlfi. p i r The gas b'fir ner during the funct'ioning or operatioh ofthefincan descent electric eas l-.11assess s se flame 1101. flame) but when it is lowered so that it occupies a position in the focal point of the lens the cook or valve 25, which controls the gas conduit, is opened. In the gas conduit there is, in addition to the'cock 25, also the sun valve of known construction, indicated at 26. During darkness the gas flow to the burner is not stopped'by the sun valve.

The apparatus will remain in this position until new electric lamps are substituted and exchanged for those which have become inoperative and the weight is hoisted. In the lighthouse the gas burner burns or is operative during darkness. During daylight the flame is extinguished automatically by the sun valve.

Case III. In this case; the lamp (for in.- stance the lamp 1). as well as the series coil 13am the shunt coil 15, are devoid of current.

The stopping arrangement 12 is then moved from its engagement with the ring '7. The stop 23 ismoved against the ring 7 but is not adapted toeiiect stopping until the ring 7 has revolved to anextent sufiicient to cause movement of the gas burner down into the focal point of the lei s, in which position the as nrner lit.

YVhen the electric circuit is again estabs ed, the t p 23 is di g g 'fwm. the a focal point but the gasto the burner is stopped by the sun valve 26.; Should the h h us eper fo g t toccmpl he l ctric circuit or should the electric circuit fail through any other cause at sunset, the gas flame will be automatically lit'by the sun valve 26 Ac o g o. t e m hed' ho n n F the presence of the gasis utilized to assist also in the replacement o f'the electric lamps and the. gas burner. To move the electric lamps 1, 2, 3 each of thelink systems 4: is adapted to be displaced by the upward thrust ofa piston in'a cylinder2'i. when gas is. ad.- mitted thereto, which piston is connected to an extension of the link system a. A cyliu: der and a piston are provided for-each sys} tem. The gas burner is suspended in an equivalent .manner. by I another parallel motion link system counterweighted in the opposite sense and'normall'y held elevated position by the upward" thrust offa piston in another cylinder, 28 inwhich gas is normally imprisoned?" The respective pistons will be referred to hereinafter as motors.

The'gas employed in the motor cylinders 27, 28 is supplied through a valve29 which is normally open toa pipe system 30 leading tovalve: casings '31, 32, the casing 31 being connected to the cylinder 28 and the casings 32 to the respective cylinders 27 The valve 29 is held in open position by electromagnetic means such as a solenoid 33, de-energizing of which produces movement of said valve to connect the pipe system to the atmosphere at 34. i

The gas is first led to a chamber 35 of the valve casing 31 associated with the motor 28 that controls the gas burner 19, which chamber is adapted to be separated from a central chamber 36 in communication with the motor cylinder 28, by a single seated valve37, a flexible diaphragm 38 serving as one wall of the second named or central chamber 36 and of a third chamber 39 Gas is conducted from the "first chamber 35 to the third chamber 39 by way of the chambers 39 39 39 of the cylinder 28to elevate the gas burner suspension means 4*. As soon as the gas, traversing the other valve casings 32, as referred to, fills thethird chamber 39 of the valve cas ing 31associatedwith the gas burner motor 28 it acts, through the diaphragm 38, to close the valve 37 and imprison the gas in the motor cylinder 28. Since'thefirst lamp to be used, is anelectricone, for instance lamp 1,

the double valve 40. associated with the motor 27 thereof is moved inopposition to' the pressure of a spring, by a solenoid 42, so that the motor cylinderj27 is supplied with gas whilst the portion of the pipe system therebeyond is isolatedimprisoning gas'in the'diaphragmchamber 39 of the valve casing31 associated with the motor 28 for the gas burnerwhich is thus not afiected. If the lamp 1 or current supply fails and the solenoid 33 controlling'the gas supply valve 29 is deenergized, thechamber of said valve 29 and companion motor cylinder 27 are temporarily exhausted whereby the electriclamp 1 is automatically raised out of the lens. The deenergizing ofthe solenoid 33 controlling the gas supply valve 29 is accompanied by the. deeenergizing of'say the solenoid 43 of a stop, notshown, normally adapted to arrest movement of a rotary switch 44 through which the solenoid 42 of themotor valve of lamp 1 "i is completed. The. resultant switch movement interruptsthis circuit and shortly after closes that of the solenoid 45 associated with the valve 39 of'themotor 27 of lamp 2 next in order. The release of the first valve 40 then isolates the .associated motor 27 and prevents that'lamp 1 coming'into use again out of turn, but establishes the pipe'circuit so that gas can be supplied to the next motor 7 cylinder 27. This cycle of operation is repeated for each ofxt'he remaining electric lamps, except that, after removal of the last lamp, in this case lamp 3, from'the lens, t he diaphragm chamber 39 of the valve 31,}a'ssociated with the gas burner motor 28,is vented to allow'said valve 37 to open and vent the" motor cylinder 28-, whereupon the gasburner. 19 descends into the lens. 'The circuitfor each motor control soleno-id'42, 45, 46 is completed across the mains through the; appropriate switch contacts 47,48, 49 which atthe same time connect in parallel therewith solenoids 50,51, 52'controlling switches in the actual lamp circuits, which latter include a common return 53 containing'thesolenoids 43 and 33 of the switch fstop and'gas supply valve. Iftherefore the 'lamp'in' any circuit thus closed by its individual switch; associated with the respective solenoids 50, 51, ,52,

fails, the rotary control switch 44 is started and continues to rotate until the circuit of the next lamp is completed when it is again arrested. To prevent continued rotation-of the control switch ,if'the stop mechanism should beirenderedinoperative due to a fault in supply, the solenoid 53 ofa brake,nor- \mallyenergized to render the latter ineffec-- tive, responds to the. fault and applies the brake.

Although it is not considerednecessary, it 1 may be arranged thatthe circuit of any one solenoid 42, 45or 46 of the lamp motors 27 shall not'be completed to bring another lamp moved from the lens. When thisis desired itmay beeffected byan-auxiliary switch 54, 55 closed by the lamp suspensionm'eans. If lamps are employedin-whichit is necessary or. advantageous to complete the Y circuit through a resistance, such resistance 56, 57 or 58 may be arranged to be: gradually cut out as the'lam'p is being lowered, as by a short able with circuiting member, not shown, mov the lamp suspension means 4.

Any other suitable means mamas scope of the invention, as defined bythe claims, may be employedfor. effecting the movements into use until the previous lamp has been reof the electric lampsand gasburner ashereinbefore describedi avingfthus described invention what I claim and desire tosecure-bylietters Patent is lql-nisign'al lighting means, the comhina M 7 tion' of an electriclamp, means for supplying electric current thereto, meansfor movably supporting' said 'lamp, .a gas burner,

tute the gas burner therefor.

V the said lamp, 3 .7 p

5; In signal lighting means, the combinameans operating independently of the sup port for said electric lamp to movably sup port the said burner, means acting automatically upon the failure of said electric lamp to remove the same from illuminating position, and separate means operating to move the said gasburner into illuminating position. 7 V

2. In signal lighting means, the combines tion of an electric lamp, a pivoted'support therefor, said support being adapted to move in a vertical plane to raise and IOWQ the said lamp, a revoluble cam member adapted to effect pivotal movements of the said support, a gas burner, a pivoted support there- 'for means for causin movement of the said u i V pivoted support toraise and lower the said gas burner, and means operative upon the failure of the said electric lamp to substi- 3. In a signal lighting means, the combination of a plurality of electric lamps each of vvhichis adapted to be moved into and out of operative'posit-ion', pivoted supports for each of said lamps, the pivots of said supports being stationary, means for supplying electric current to said lamps, a gas burner which is adapted to be moved into and out of the said operative position adapted to be occupied by the said electric lamps, a pivoted support for the saidgas burner, the pivot for sa d support being stationary, a revoluble curved member having cam members mounted thereon means fOr'CZl.llS1l1 "IO a tative movement of the said curved member and the cam members'mounted thereon, and

means whereby rotative movement of the said curved member and the cam members carried thereby is'adapted to'cause movement of the said pivoted supports, and means ren dered operative upon the failure of the last of the said electric lamps to eifectsubstitu: tion of the said gas burner therefor.

4. In signal lighting means, the combina tion of an incandescent electric lamp pivotally supported, parallel links for supportingsaid lamp, gas burner, paral el links for pivotallyl supporting said gas: burner, means for. supplyingelectric current to the said lamp, means for supplying illuminating gas tothe said burner, and means cooperating with the supporting links of saidlamp and burner whereby the said burner will be substituted for the said lamp upon failure of tion of. a plurality of means for providing sources of light, said means comprising an electriclamp and a gas burner, pivoted l nk devices for supporting: said lamp and gas burner respectively, the pivots of 'said' 'supiporting link devices being stationary, each of'the said'pivoted link devices being adapted: to carry the saidmeansinto and out of operative position, and means operating to actuate the pivoted link device for supporting said lamp to move the same from the position occupied thereby upon failure thereof'and the said means operating also to ac tuate the pivoted link device for supporting the said gas burner to move the latter into the position occupied by the said lamp at the time of its failure.

6. In signal lighting means, the combination of a lens of general drum type, a plurality of electric lamps one of which normally is positioned at the focal point of the said lens and the others of which normally are positioned out of thepaths of the rays of light which pass through the said lens, a gas burner which also normally is located out of the paths of the said rays, pivoted levers for supporting the respective lamps, a pivoted lever for supporting the said gas burner, means for actuatin the lever sup porting a lamp to remove tliesame from its position at the focal point of the said lens upon failurethereof, the said means also op erating to actuate the lever of the next succeeding lamp to move it into the place occupied by the failed lamp, and means for moving the gas burner into position at the focal point of said lens upon'failure of all of the said lamps. V

7. In signal lighting means,the combination of a plurality of movable electric lamps and a movable gas burner, movable means for supporting the respective lamps and burner, a rotatable member having contact With portions of the vrespective movable means and adapted when rotated to cause movement of said meansto successively move the said lamps and burner, means operating upon failure of one of said lamps to cause rotation of said member to cause movement of said lamp out of operative position with relation to a lens system, and the rotation of said member also operating to cause movement of the next succeeding lamp into the position vacated by the failed lamp, and the said rotatable member operating upon failure of the last of said lamps to actuate the movable means supporting the said gas burner to move the latter into operative position With relation to thesaid lens system.

Signed at London, England, this twentysixth day of a ririeac. s

, ROBERT READMAN STEEL. 

